Wood splitting apparatus

ABSTRACT

A device for splitting logs. This device consists of an engine driven shaft having a conical screw thereupon it, the screw serving to penetrate and split logs.

United States Patent Long 51 June 20, 1972 s41 WOOD SPLITTING APPARATUS FOREIGN PATENTS 0R APPLICATIONS [72] Inventor: John A. Long, 110 Hillview Drive, Clover- 304,465 1/ 1955 Switzerland ..144/ 193 R dale, Calif. 95425 1,147,747 4/1963 Germany ..l44/ 193 A 520,244 3/1955 Italy 144/193 R [221 mm 315,664 8/1956 Switzerland ..144/194 [21] Appl. No.: 58,502 90,896 2/ 1958 Norway ..144/ 193 R 244,536 5/1965 Austria ..144/l93 R [52] U.S. C1. ..144/ 193 D, 144/ 194 p gxaminer Andrew j h Int Cl B271 Assistant Examiner-James F. Coan [58] Field otSearch ..l44/3 K, 192, 193 R, 193 D,

144/193 G, 194 [57] ABSTRACT A device for splitting logs. This device consists of an engine [56] Referencs Cited driven shaft having a conical screw thereupon it, the screw UNITED STATES PATENTS serving to penetrate and split logs. 3,285,304 11/1966 Fuller 144/193 A 1 Claim, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJum m2 JOHN A LONG INVENTOR.

WOOD SPLI'I'IING APPARATUS This invention relates to wood working machines and more particularly to a log splitting apparatus.

It is therefore the primary purpose of this invention to provide a wood splitting apparatus which is supported upon U- shaped channels forming the base, the device also including a chain and sprocket driven screw which serves to bore and split the log placed upon the apparatus.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of the type described which may be gasoline engine driven or electrically driven, the speed of the conical screw of the device being slowed sufficiently by having a large sprocket upon the screw shaft, the large sprocket having chain means engaging a small sprocket upon the engine shaft A further object of this invention is to provide a wood splitting apparatus which will have bearing support means from the engine shaft and the screw shaft, the sprockets being contained within and secured to a plate on the base.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a wood splitting apparatus which is simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture, rugged in construction, easy to use and efficient in operation.

These and other objects will become readily apparent upon a study of the following specification together with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention; showing a log section after being split by the screw portion of the apparatus;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged top plan view of the present invention; and

FIG. 3 is a side view of FIG. 2 shown in elevation.

According to this invention, a wood splitting apparatus is shown to include a plurality of U-shaped channel members 11 which form the base of apparatus 10. A flat plate 12 is fixedly secured in a suitable manner to the top of one end of the channel members 11 and provide support means for the hollow rectangular housing and the engine 14. The drive shaft 15 of engine 14 extends into housing 13 and is supported upon a bearing 16. Secured rigidly to shaft 15 is a sprocket 17 for a purpose which hereinafter will be described. A shaft 18 parallel with shaft 15 extends through housing 13 and is supported upon bearings 19 and 20 secured rigidly to shaft 18 is a sprocket 21 which is in alignment with sprocket 17 of shaft 15, the sprockets 17 and 21 carrying an endless chain 22 which allows shaft 18 to rotate simultaneously with the engine shaft 15 when apparatus 10 is in operation. Exterior of housing 13 and secured fixedly to shaft 18 is a screw 23 which serves to split wood. A pair of adjacent channel members 11 are provided with raised portions 28 which allows the log 25 to be carried against screw 23.

In use, log 25 is split by the pointed portion of screw 23 boring into it, and the diameter of screw 23 becoming progressively larger due to its taper, will cause log 25 to split.

What! now claim is:

1. In a wood splitting apparatus, the combination of a plurality of parallel, spaced apart U-shaped channels, a flat plate mounted across one ends of said channels, said channels being in a horizontal plane, an upstanding housing mounted upon the upper side of said flat plate, said housing supporting an engine upon one side thereof, said engine having a drive shaft extending into said housing, said drive shaft having a first sprocket affixed there upon, said fixed sprocket engaging a second sprocket affixed upon a screw shaft by means of an endless chain, said screw shaft extending horizontally through said housing, one end of said screw shaft having a conical screw affixed there to, said screw being positioned above said U-shaped channel's ends not supporting said flat plate, and the terminal portions of said channel's having raised portions mounted there upon, each of said raised portions including an upper side that is inclined for rolling logs toward said screw. 

1. In a wood splitting apparatus, the combination of a plurality of parallel, spaced apart U-shaped channels, a flat plate mounted across one ends of said channels, said channels being in a horizontal plane, an upstanding housing mounted upon the upper side of said flat plate, said housing supporting an engine upon one side thereof, said engine having a drive shaft extending into said housing, said drive shaft having a first sprocket affixed there upon, said fixed sprocket engaging a second sprocket affixed upon a screw shaft by means of an endless chain, said screw shaft extending horizontally through said housing, one end of said screw shaft having a conical screw affixed there to, said screw being positioned above said U-shaped channel''s ends not supporting said flat plate, and the terminal portions of said channel''s having raised portions mounted there upon, each of said raised portions including an upper side that is inclined for rolling logs toward said screw. 